Alright this is really short for three reasons, one I've been swamped with Igor knows how much stuff to do. Secondly I've been replaying through both Persona 5 and FE Awakening (I hate Lunatic+ with every fiber of my being now) so I can try to keep in line with character personalities (which probably won't happen). And finally I've been teasing some ideas in my mind, along with heavily editing this because I put in certain events that sped this up a little too fast. With ideas I've been thinking about lengthening the time allotted to the characters and making the whole experience another year longer which, yes is absolutely dumb but it ties in with another idea I have, I'm still deciding on it so I won't reveal too much. Anyway please do enjoy.
"Stop lookin at me like that Luce!" Ryuji hid behind Akira "What'd I do?"
"Oh I don't know maybe you and Akira left me to wander the school with no way of conversing with anyone else!" Lucina tried to maneuver herself around Akira as to get to the reason for her ire. Ryuji continued to use Akira as his bodyshield though, in an attempt to save himself he tried to change the subject.
"It doesn't matter anyway because nobody's gonna talk." He gestured around. "We're really sorry, but Lucina it wouldn't have worked if all of us were walking together to search right?"
"Especially since I've got my record leaked…" Akira sighed, moving to sit on a bench.
"I've been meaning to ask, what is so important about this record?" Lucina -efficiently distracted by the segway- sat down by Akira, turning her head to face him.
"With a criminal record it's pretty hard to get a good paying job. It's even harder to find a school that'll take you." Akira told her, a small fire igniting in his eyes. "Which is why I have to be on my best behaviour, this was the only school that would take me after I was handed my probation."
"And if you got kicked out now you'd have no place to go…" Ryuji gave an understanding nod. "Now I get why you suggested we might have to take out the king."
"What king?" All three high schoolers jumped at the fourth voice to join in the conversation.
Damn it all… Akira turned his head to see who it was. To his surprise it was the girl from his classroom, Ann Takamaki.
"It's quite rude to eavesdrop." Lucina admonished.
"There are rumors already, you two threatening other students for dirt on Kamoshida." Ann ignored Lucina entirely, focusing on the two boys in front of her.
Lucina did her best to try and understand what Ann was saying but to no avail. Japanese was just on a different level for her at the moment.
"None of your business." Ryuji scoffed, already turning his back on the girl. "If you knew what he was really like you'd be disgusted."
"Do you know what he does behind your back?" Akira's eyes darted over to Anns, searching for any hint of emotion to be found.
"What he does behind my back…?" Doubt surfaced, Ann's features shifted to a sad understanding.
"Hey whatcha four talkin about?" Another voice surprised all of them, but when the four looked around they saw no one around.
"Where the hell are ya?!" Ryuji growled, searching wildly. "Come on out ya coward!"
"Well I'm not necessarily a coward, it'd just suck to climb down." A hand came down from the top and waved.
"Who are you?" Lucina called out.
"Oh right… um name's James."
"The new transfer?" Akira appeared to gain some interest as he climbed over the fence to get a better look at the top of the pavilion.
"Yeah that's me." And true to his word there he was, a shy smile played upon the transfer students lips as he waved, in his lap was a black cat. "I couldn't help but overhear you guys arguing, what's up?"
"Our apologies." Lucina followed Akira over the small fence. "We didn't mean to bother you."
"Oh no you weren't bothering me." James waved it off. "You did seem to be annoying kitkat here." With his free hand the transfer student was gently scratching the cats neck.
"Alright, we'll try to keep it down." Akira started to gently pulled Lucina back over to Ryuji.
"Wait a sec, I do have a question for you guys though." The transfer flashed his phone in Akira's direction. "I don't remember this app being here earlier today. Did you or the blond guy put it on there?"
"No." Akira answered truthfully. "Maybe you have some sort of virus?"
"That'd suck… oh well sorry for bothering you."
"It's no problem, we should be saying that to you." Akira climbed back over the fence to get back under the pavilion. Ann was nowhere to be seen.
"She left thanks to him." Ryuji pointed up. "So what's the plan now?"
"I think we should try one last time to get a confession of the abuse." Lucina started brainstorming. "If that doesn't work then we might have to resort to Akira's idea, or we go to Kamoshida directly."
"We probably should've led with the latter first." Akira pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache slowly forming in his head.
"Yeah, yeah…" Ryuji 'lightly' punched a vending machine. "Damnit all…"
"Calm down Ryuji." Akira placed a hand on his shoulder. "Anger kills rational decisions."
"We'll think this through together." Lucina nodded in affirmation.
"Alright, just give me a sec." Ryuji exhaled. "Thanks guys."
"Let's head to the roof. We can get some privacy there." Akira motioned the two to follow him.
"First we're going to go around one last time and try to get some information." Both boys shivered under Lucina's glare. "Don't think I forgot about what you did earlier."
"But-" Akira started
"Yeah… first we'll do that." Ryuji slapped a hand over Akira's mouth. "Sorry again Luce."
"Better." With a smile Lucina led the two back into the building. Mother'd be so proud.
"Did you hear all that?" James muttered to the black cat. "Seems I'm not the only person who doesn't like that Kamoshida."
Yes, he had been listening in the whole time. It was pretty hard not to when one of them just kept yelling… Seriously I can only imagine if this was an anime. I'd probably be sweet dropping so hard… With a roll of his eyes James looked back to his phone. Those guys were the ones that I left my gear with though, maybe I can find something out about this app from them?
With a meow and a purr the cat stretched. James kept scratching its neck as he pondered what he had been hearing. If what they're really saying is true there is a teacher abusing students here. I knew this felt all to familiar. Slowly he trailed his fingers down the cats spine. It's be rude to spy on them, but… Gently he put the cat down before inching back towards the window. My curiosity is hooked and I have to know ! The cat followed, a small human like smile playing on its lips.
"There's only one more we can ask." Ryuji sighed. With Lucina accompanying them this time the group had gone back around the school. Quickly they ran right into the same wall the boys had been facing earlier. "God damn it nobody's talking to us!"
"Mishima's the last one." Akira rubbed both his temples. "We have to wait because he had to be taken to the nurses office."
"Alright, so let's try a gentle approach this time." Lucina suggested, smoothing ruffles on her school uniform.
All three proceeded to wait by the front entrance for Mishima to show up. After an hour a bell signaled the end of the rally, that's when the student Lucina assumed to be Mishima started dashing for the front entrance.
Ryuji moved to stand in the way. "Hey hold up."
"S-Sakamoto!" Mishima skidded to a halt. Akira walked over to Ryuji while keeping a watch on the skittish student "A-and you too!?"
"It's alright, we just want to talk to you." Akira did his best smile, Mishima still seemed to be nervous though. Damn… I might need to work on my charms and people skills.
"You don't mind if we ask you a few questions?" Lucina swooped in to save the situation, gently taking Mishima's hand and giving him a reassuring smile.
Mishima tilted his head but Lucina's gentle touch seemed to be working.
She's kinda pretty… Mishima bit his lip. But if I get caught here then I'll be in even bigger troub-
"Mishima, shouldn't you be at practice?" All four students turned to see Kamoshida leaning against some of the lockers, a smirk across his face.
"I-I-I…" Mishima stuttered, his mind refusing to work. "I'm not feeling very well today sir."
"Are you sure Mishima?" Kamoshida walked toward Mishima and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Mishima's reaction was a subdued flinch as his eyes failed to meet those of the PE teacher. "It'd be a shame for you to lose your position because you couldn't keep up with everyone else."
"Didn't you hear, he said he wasn't feeling well." Ryuji put himself between Kamoshida and Mishima. "How about you buzz off?"
"Careful Sakamoto." Kamoshida gave a good natured grin. "We might need to have another talk on self defense at this rate."
"It's fine sir, I'll be at practice shortly." Mishima finally decided to speak up, possibly for Ryuji's sake.
"Good, see you there." Kamoshida's smile grew wider, he then turned to face Akira. "Ah if it isn't the assaulter, such a shame about your record and all isn't it?"
"I guess." Akira shrugged, not giving Kamoshida a hint of satisfaction. "Might I say you have a brilliant spike sir?"
"Heh." Kamoshida glanced over at Lucina, Ryuji and Akira fumed silently when they realized the pervert was sizing up her body. "And you're miss Lowell correct?
Lucina tilted her head. "What's he saying?" She whispered to Akira.
Akira bit his lip, he whispered back. "The perv's asking if you're Lucina Lowell."
"Oh… yes I'm Lucina Lowell." Giving a small nod Lucina turned away from the others and started walking away.
"Wait." Kamoshida stopped her with a gentle hand. "The girls team has notified me that you've been trying to ask questions. Are you by any chance interested in joining the volleyball team?"
"He's asking now if you want to join the volleyball team." Ryuji muttered, still glaring at Kamoshida with every ounce of spite and malice he could muster.
Lucina didn't face the teacher, she instead glanced towards Mishima to read his face. He was putting on a front, a brave front but a front nonetheless she realized. In his eyes there was only panic and fear.
"I'll have to think about it." She gave a rather fake smile towards Kamoshida before dragging Mishima and Ryuji away.
"She said she'll have to think about it." Akira relayed the information. "Apologies for bothering you sir."
"Oh no it's fine." Kamoshida nodded. "I'm curious as to what you three are up to though." Leaning back against the lockers he continued to glare at Akira, a smirk forming on his face. "Keep up like that and you'll regret it I wager."
"Define regret, because I have none." Was all Akira threw back before walking away.
"Heh." Kamoshida continued to watch Akira until he was out of sight before laughing to himself. After that it appeared as if he was dressed in a shameless display of a simple red mantle with pink underwear, a crown atop his head. "Looks as if the snake was right! Let's see the bugs can do more than scurry about!"
"Do not think yourself invincible." A young man left the shadows. He approached the king with no ounce of respect in his red eyes. "Worms like you are nothing before my might."
"So you say snake, but yet who's doing whos bidding here?" The cognitive version of Kamoshida sneered. "Is the surprise ready?"
"Yes the fool is in place. He'll know where to aim that tome of his when the princess shows herself, after that I'll be released (or so you tell me) and I can raze this world. There won't even be an afterlife after I'm done here."
"What do you mean?" Akira pressed Mishima for more answers.
"Everyone knows about the abuse… they just choose to ignore that." Mishima covered his face with his hands, tears flowing freely. "The principal… the teachers… even the parents, they cover it up."
"Disgusting." Lucina scowled after her allies translated what Mishima had said to her. "No matter where they turn nobody will help them then?"
"It gets worse, if we try to get the police in on this then it most likely won't work." Akira rubbed his temples. "It'll just get covered up again and we'll be right back to square one with nothing to do."
"Damn it!" Ryuji ran his fingers through his hair. "There's gotta be something we can do!"
"Let's continue this on the roof." Lucina gathered her belongings, gently she hugged Mishima and in that moment she saw something in her mind's eye.
A moon rising above a frozen lake… the darkest evening of the year.
Akira blinked, for a second he simply stared at Mishima before glancing at Lucina as if to say. "You saw that right?"
"Later." Lucina mouthed back before leaving the boys to their own devices.
Alright so I had actually a lot more content between Shadow Kamoshida and this unrevealed character which included the unveiling of my spectacular idea with its full name being said at one point. Problem is that it speeds up the inclusion of our clueless new friend. This was something I came to realize was just not a good idea and I should back off on it until later. For those curious, I took out about two thousand words worth of dialogue, action, and adventure. (You have full permission to facepalm if you so wish.) I also cut out the roof scene which will instead be happening whenever I get my brain working again, I'm still writing my other story and with these two I've successfully screwed myself over with writers block. (Even now I believe I'm rambling which means I need to start a new project to give me some time... lord have mercy) Anyway please ask any questions you may have, give some helpful tips and advice or just tell me if you like or dislike my opinions. I'll be posting a poll on one idea I have for this so please do consider giving me your two bits as to not piss off all the people with my future decisions.
The question I'll be asking is: Should we keep separate confidants for Lucina and Akira or do it in a style that includes multiple people in a group thus making the confidants like a spiders web, entangled together through relationships of different people?